I now realize this is the proper forum for my previous Newbie Forum post. Can an editor please remove it from that forum? Here is the post:

I have an HP 6735 laptop with a Broadcom 5787 chip. If I install Ubuntu 12.10 on it, once in a while the wireless works on the fresh install (maybe once out of three tries), but when I install all the updates the wireless disappears on restart. WIth Mint 13 (my much preferred distro) the wireless never shows up, before or after update. (note added since the initial Newbie Forum post: I think the proper driver for this chip is Tg3, which I believe both Ubuntu and Mint 13 have. If this is correct, how do I point the wireless to the Tg3 driver?) When I run Clems Command for Mint WiFi the return is as follows - please advise. Thanks!

------------------------- * V. querying DHCP... Rather than invoking init scripts through /etc/init.d, use the service(8) utility, e.g. service smbd reload

Since the script you are attempting to invoke has been converted to an Upstart job, you may also use the reload(8) utility, e.g. reload smbd RTNETLINK answers: File exists ------------------------- * VI. querying nslookup google.com... Server: 208.254.148.69 Address: 208.254.148.69#53

Thank you, AlberP ! I followed your advice to remove the post from the Newbie Forum. Also thanks for straightening me out on the wired chip. What command will help on determining the wireless chip? Or better how should I proceed to get wireless?

Recall an Ubuntu 12.10 install sometimes gave a working wireless (maybe one out of three tries) before getting updates,but updating killed the wireless. I think I have pretty clsoe to the same drivers in Mint 13?

I did not want to complicate the message originally. In actuality I have several of these laptops I am trying to prepare for donation. I thought they were all the same. But running lspci on the Ubuntu machine says there is a BCM 4312 network controller present. While the Mint output which you requested seems not to have any Network?

Please look at that output and advise. I deeply apologize if I have wasted your time. I would not have seen this (if I am right) without your guidance. Angler1

If Ubuntu would only detect the 4312 card one out of three tries, I assume that it's a faulty card.

Else you could try installing the kernel updates from Synaptic Package Manager: Status > Installed (upgradeable), then right-click linux-image and linux-headers to mark them for upgrading.

The 4312 needs a driver, but to install that, the card first has to be detected. When you can get the card to show up in lspci or inxi -N output, you can install the firmware-b43-lpphy-installer package from Software Manager (using a wired internet connection).

Actually, my dad has also had a 6735b (the laptop's system board died, which seems to be a common problem on the 6735b). He had a Broadcom 4322. That one requires the STA driver (from Additional Drivers), instead of b43.

Registered Linux User #528502Feel free to correct me if I'm trying to write in Spanish, French or German.

Thank you, AlbertP, these tools give me insight as to how to proceed. For example, I switched the Network cards between the Ubuntu machine (lspci reads the card) and the Mint machine (Does not see card). The Ubuntu machine continues to see a BCM 4312 card and the Mint machine continues not to see a card. Next I will install Mint on the Ubuntu machine and run lspci. (Yes, these 6735b HP laptops have history of bad motherboards, with a prime contributor being an overheating graphic chip.) I will report in a day or two. Angler1

Thank you Albert. I now have wireless following your advice that lspci command in terminal revealed the presence of a Broadcom 4312 wireless card, and then installation of "firmware-b43-lpphy-installer" driver per your response. I was beating my head against the wall before your analysis.

The only discordant note: when I cloned the now active hard drive with Clonezilla, the cloned drive did not show wireless connections when booted in the same laptop. It gave a "no network connection" message. When the broken network icon was left clicked, under the grayed out Wireless Networks was the line "device not ready (firmware missing)". Uninstalling and reinstalling the driver package had no effect. Any thoughts on this?